Jackalopes spread community cheer through holiday season

December 27, 2012

Jackalopes players help out at the West Texas Food Bank.

Long a staple of the North American Hockey League's (NAHL) Odessa Jackalopes’ annual community calendar, the 2012 Jacks Holiday Tour once again epitomized the team’s longstanding commitment to the Permian Basin community. An all-day event held on December 20th, the 2012 Holiday Tour featured a visit to the pediatric wing of Medical Center Hospital in Odessa, a donation to the West Texas Food Bank, a trip Wal-Mart East in Odessa to assist in the Salvation Army’s holiday fundraising efforts and an evening appearance at MCM Ice inside Music City Mall in Odessa where Jacks players signed autographs, took pictures and handed out prizes.

“It’s a great way to give back to the community,” said Jackalopes Team President Dan Lavergne Thursday, “[The Holiday Tour] is our way to give something back to the fans for everything they’ve done for us throughout the years.” “We just want to spread a little joy at a festive time of the year,” said Jacks Director of Community Relations Kyle Rodgers, who was instrumental in organizing the event, “We try and do several different things on the tour and reach out to many areas in the community.”

Joined by Jackalopes front office staff and team mascot SlapJack, Jackalopes players also visited Reagan Elementary school in Odessa on December 19th to talk about the consequences of bad decision-making and the importance of saying “No” to drugs and alcohol.

If you would like to help Permian Basin residents in need this holiday season, contact the Odessa corps of the Salvation army by phone at 432-332-0738 or visit them online at www.uss.salvationarmy.org/Odessa. Donations to the West Texas Food Bank are welcome at 1008 E 2nd Street in Odessa and for more information on how to volunteer your time at Medical Center Hospital, call MCH today at 432-640-4000.